1. You Try
Will the condor eat an entire dead animal? Explain.
What happens to the part of the dead animal that the condor doesn’t eat?

2. What Are Decomposers?

3. Decomposers
A decomposer is a living thing that feeds on wastes and the remains of dead plants and animals

4. Decomposers break down wastes and remains into nutrients.
The nutrients goes into the soil, and plants take in the nutrients through their roots..

5. Decomposers Animal Wastes Decomposers Plant Wastes Dead Organisms
Nutrients

6. Decomposers
Decomposers come in all sizes (examples: Bacteria and Mushrooms).
Without decomposers the Earth would be covered with dead plants and animals.

7. Scavengers
A scavenger is an animal that eats large pieces of plant and animal remains.
Scavengers break down plants and animals into smaller pieces, then the decomposers take over.

8. Scavengers
Sow Bug
Millipedes
Condor

9. Fungi
A fungus is an organism that absorbs nutrients from living plants and dead plant materials.

10. Fungi
Fungi breaks down materials into nutrients and absorbs some of the nutrients into their own cells.
Three types of Fungi: mold, mushroom, and sac

11. Fungi In some forests fungi are the main decomposers.
Forest decomposers have a special way of digging into wood by releasing a chemical.
Fungi are found in both freshwater and seawater.

12. Fungi
Even though fungi is a decomposers, they are also a food source for other living things.

13. You Try
How are molds, mushrooms, and other types of fungi alike?

14. A microorganism is a living thing that is so small it cannot be seen.
Microorganisms
A microorganism is a living thing that is so small it cannot be seen.
Bacteria is the most common type.
Decomposer bacteria is found in soil and water.

15. Bacteria provides food in two ways:
They release nutrients by decomposing matter
They are also a source of food for other living things

16. Molds are another type of microorganism
Like bacteria, molds are also food for other living things.